“Il empoigne Daniel par la peau du coo, le souleve et dit:—­Le loup me croque, s’il ne pese pas cinq livres.

“Il le retourne, et le malheureux crache deux poignees de plomb.  Quand Smiley reconnut ce qui en etait, il fut comme fou.  Vous le voyez d’ici poser sa grenouille par terra et courir apres cet individu, mais il ne le rattrapa jamais, et ....”

[Translation of the above back from the French:]

THE FROG JUMPING OF THE COUNTY OF CALAVERAS

It there was one time here an individual known under the name of Jim Smiley; it was in the winter of ’89, possibly well at the spring of ’50, I no me recollect not exactly.  This which me makes to believe that it was the one or the other, it is that I shall remember that the grand flume is not achieved when he arrives at the camp for the first time, but of all sides he was the man the most fond of to bet which one have seen, betting upon all that which is presented, when he could find an adversary; and when he not of it could not, he passed to the side opposed.  All that which convenienced to the other to him convenienced also; seeing that he had a bet Smiley was satisfied.  And he had a chance! a chance even worthless; nearly always he gained.  It must to say that he was always near to himself expose, but one no could mention the least thing without that this gaillard offered to bet the bottom, no matter what, and to take the side that one him would, as I you it said all at the hour (tout a l’heure).  If it there was of races, you him find rich or ruined at the end; if it, here is a combat of dogs, he bring his bet; he himself laid always for a combat of cats, for a combat of cocks —­by-blue!  If you have see two birds upon a fence, he you should have offered of to bet which of those birds shall fly the first; and if there is meeting at the camp (meeting au camp) he comes to bet regularly for the cure Walker, which he judged to be the best predicator of the neighborhood (predicateur des environs) and which he was in effect, and a brave man.  He would encounter a bug of wood in the road, whom he will bet upon the time which he shall take to go where she would go—­and if you him have take at the word, he will follow the bug as far as Mexique, without himself caring to go so far; neither of the time which he there lost.  One time the woman of the cure Walker is very sick during long time, it seemed that one not her saved not; but one morning the cure arrives, and Smiley him demanded how she goes, and he said that she is well better, grace to the infinite misery (lui demande comment elle va, et il dit qu’elle est bien mieux, grace a l’infinie misericorde) so much better that with the benediction of the Providence she herself of it would pull out (elle s’en tirerait); and behold that without there thinking Smiley responds:  “Well, I gage two-and-half that she will die all of same.”